THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority has awarded five scholarships to students at the University of Tasmania as part of its 2024 scholarship program.
AMSA CEO Mick Kinley said the scholarships, totalling $47,000, are intended to help address critical issues facing the maritime industry, including the ongoing skills shortage and low number of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the sector.
“Our scholarship program helps ensure a strong pipeline of maritime professionals by offering pathways to make it easier for people to start a career in the maritime industry” Mr Kinley said.
“This not only supports our work as a regulator, but also our commitment to increasing diversity across the maritime workforce, as well as developing the skills, knowledge, and experience of the next generation of maritime professionals.”
Professor Rufus Black, vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania, said the university is grateful for the assistance provided by AMSA to support students throughout the course of their academic studies.
“The scholarships provided by AMSA help ease the financial burden faced by many students when attending university, and it is particularly pleasing to see that support given the national need for these skills” Mr Black said.
“We thank AMSA for supporting our students, especially the mentorship provided as part of the scholarships and ongoing support well after the students have completed their studies.”
Tracey Vella, recipient of AMSA’s Vocational Near Coastal Seafaring Scholarship, said “This scholarship has given me the invaluable opportunity to study 2 courses in maritime while lessoning the financial burden on my family.
“They say good things come to those who wait, and I look forward to entering the maritime workforce with the knowledge I’ll gain from my studies.”
Concurrently, AMSA also awarded two students from the University of Wollongong with its Academic Excellence Scholarship for 2024.
The $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually to students who demonstrates academic excellence while studying a Master of Maritime Policy or Graduate Certificate in Maritime Studies Programs.
Mr Kinley said having skilled professionals in maritime policy is critical to supporting the growth and development of Australia’s maritime industry, and AMSA as its safety regulator.
“Policy, both domestic and international, informs the way the maritime industry operates and is regulated” Mr Kinley said.
“Our Academic Excellence Scholarship is one way that we’re supporting a steady stream of skilled and experienced professionals in this area of the maritime sector.”
